Protecting device for air-brake-pipe couplings.



J. IVI. BUUIRD, E` P. COLE I F. H. HASLAGE.

PROTECTING DEVICE EUR AIR BRAKE PIPE COUPLIIIGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2I i915* u f mmm/M w M k WH/I E w fw .meer M'.Banaan, or PITTSBURGH, nvnnson r. conn, or conAoroms'ANn FRANK H.

HAsLAenor PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

l PBOTECTING- DEVICE FOR AIR-BRAKE-PIPE COUPLINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented Sept. 21, 1915.

1 appneanmi inea April 2, 19'15. serial No. 18,740.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we,.JACo M. BUZARD, Evnnso-N P. Conn, and FRANK H.HASLAGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh,Coraopolis, and Pittsburgh, resl'iectively, in thel county of Allegheny,State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Protecting Devices for Air-Brake-Pipe Couplings, of which thefollowing is a specification. i

Our invention consists of mechanism for protecting terminals of `airpipes of an air brake or other system of fluid circulation in carservice.

Ordinarily, the air pipes of the car are provided with rigidly. mountedterminals,

' lto which are attached the hose sections having the terminalcouplings, and such \ter minals are apt to bestruck by the couplers ofapproaching cars -in coupling, and my jured or destroyed, especially .incoupling on curvesLQr winnie the drawbars are for any reason throwiroutof normal alinemen't. Iny our invention, we provide for the mounting ofthe end portions of the pipes -in such a i uannei' as to provide fortheir automatic backward. movement, utilizing flexible connections andsprings so arranged as to adapt exposed portions of the line to bedepressed a\nd resiliently returned, as here1nafter inoie fullydescribed.

ln the drawings, which show two adaptations ot' the invention, Figure 1is a plan View, showing the couplers of adjacent cars in abnormalposition,.and in contact with the pipe terminals. Fig. 2 is a'viewshowing the construction in elevation. Fig. 3 is a similar view,illustrating a modified arrangement. F igJl is a detail view, showing amodified construction as to the mounting of the supporting spring. Figs.5 and 6 are detail views, showing the supporting plate for the springand its connection with the 1 e. P1lle-ierring t the construction ofFigs. 1f and 2, the coupler heads 2, 2, of well-known construction, aremounted by-their drawbars in the central framework of the cars, and whencoupling on curves, or when' thrown out of alineinent for any reason,are apt to strike the terminal 3, having the usual valve and stein l andto damage thesame.

ln carrying out the invention, we provide between the outer end of therigidly mounted pipe section 5 and a longitudinally mov- `ablesection Ga section of hose 7 which is connected with the pipes 5 and' 6 with acoupling terminal 8 at each end.` Between these terminals 8 andsurrounding the hose section 7, is a coiled vor helical spring 9, theterminals of whichpass through lugs l() of couplings 8 and are woundvone or more times around pipes 5 and 6, providing good con- Pipes 5 and6 are supported by nection. hangers 11, 12, respectively, pipe 6 havingthe longitudinally slidable bearingin hanger 12, so that when terminal 3is struck it will slide backwardly and avoid injury. Upon release ofpressure, a spring 9 will eti'ect retraction of the section 6, thrustingAit outwardly to its normal position, the whole section straighteningout, under action of the spring, as will be readilyunderstood.

In Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive,'we show a modilied arrangement in which theseveral parts are the same as above described, and indicated by thesainenumerals having the exponent a In place, however, of the hanger 12, thefront section 6 may be supported in a depending plate 12, beyond whichextends a spring 9 bearing against a collar 13. A similar collar 14 issecured around pipe 6a behind hanger 12 to positively limit the outwardmovement, collar 13 acting to utilize the resiliency of the spring inthrusting pipe section 6a outwardly. Hose section 7, by its resiliency,is free to buckle under the compressive action, andA to be rereeted orstraightenedin the same manner as above described. The front portion ofpipe 6a is f supported by a helical spring 15, preferably in coniformarrangement, having the ter- .minal loop 16 engaging pipe (3, the uppercoil of the spring being supported in a plate 17, which is bolted upunderneath the end sill o1c the car. with' a groove 18 around its upperface, in which lies the upper coil of spring 15, one end of which isturned downwardly through the plate, as at 19, tixedly holding it in position, the coil passing downwardly at an angle through a suitablyformed opening 20, as clearly shown.

Said plate 17 is provided As shown in Fig. G, the lower end of thesupporting spring 15a is provided with a depending stapleor loop 21secured by U- bolts 22 to the terminal of the wire, whereby to providean easy supporting bearing for the section 6.

When spring 15 is attached to a steel car I structure, as in Fig. fl, aseparate supporting out the main functions of the invention.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood andappreciated by all those familiar with this class of construc tion.

lt completely obviates the liability to breakage or injury; itlmaintains the con pliug terminals at their normal. position without inany way preventing or allecting their operation or n'ianipulation incoupling or uncoupling, and it effects a very material saving of cost intime and preventing breakage of the parts.

The invention may be variously changed or modified by the skilledmechanic to suit the conditions of use, but all such changes i, are tobe considered aswitliin the scope of the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a protecting device for air brake couplings, the combination witha rigid conducting pipe, of an outer coupling pipe and terminal., asupport therefor permitting longitudinal movement of the couplin'g pipe,a

/f/ hose coupling device on the inner end of the coupling pipe and theouter end of the con-- spring sui-rounding the hose section and havingits end portions engaging said lugs and coiled around the pipes beyondsaid 4coupling devices. f

ln a protecting device for air brake coulvilings, the combination with arigid conducting pipe, ot' an outer coupling pipe and terninal adaptedfor longitudinal, lateral and vertical movement, a hose sectionconnecting the rear end of the coupliiigpipe with the front end'or theconducting pipe, a coiled spring adapted to be depressed on backwardmovement of the coupling terminal and to expand to return said terminalto normal position, and a helical spring depending froin the car framingprovided with a looped terminal loosely engaging the coupling pipe andadapted to move later ally and vertically with it and to provide forlongitudinal. movement therein.

lntestimony whereof we have hereunto alixed our signatures in thepresence of two witnesses. l

JACOB M. BUZARD. EVERSON l?. COLE. FRANIQH. HASLAGE. In presence of-CHins'r ViiinLiNG,

W. R. Snom.

